Banknote drive rollers with antijamming characteristics

ABSTRACT

A banknote drive arrangement comprises a series of drive rollers which allow initial pivotting of a banknote during insertion of a banknote into a validator and also provide positive drive of a banknote out of the validator if the banknote is refused. The banknote drive arrangement includes at least two drive rollers which are always active and cooperate with respective passive rollers which are notched. The passive rollers lock against rotation in an infeed direction and freely rotate during ejection of a banknote.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drive system for driving a banknoteinto a validator and also allowing the banknote to be driven out of thevalidator in the reverse direction. In particular, some of the driverollers have different operating characteristics with respect to thedirection the banknote is being fed, and in particular, the rollers areactive during ejection of a banknote to reduce possible jamming of thebanknote.

Banknote validators are now commonly used with a host of different typesof vending machines and gaming machines. These validators receivebanknotes of different denominations and carry out certaininvestigations of the banknote to predict whether the banknote isauthentic. The banknotes are typically received through an inlet of thevalidator and passed by a series of drive rollers past various sensorsprovided either side of a banknote evaluation channel. Investigationsare conducted as the banknote is moved through the validator. If theinvestigations are satisfactory, the banknote is accepted and passed toa banknote cassette or banknote accumulator. If the investigationsindicate the bill may not be authentic, it is rejected and returned tothe user through the inlet.

Typically, the trailing edge of the banknote has passed the inlet to thevalidator before the final determination with respect to authenticity,is made and there can be problems if the banknote becomes jammed, upon areverse direction of the drive rollers to return the banknote throughthe inlet. This results in a very unfortunate situation where the userhas in good faith, provided the banknote to the validator and thevalidator has determined that the banknote should not be accepted. Theattempt to return the unwanted banknote to the user results in thebanknote becoming jammed within the validator. In many cases, the userdoes not even have a portion of the banknote exposed within the inletwhich could be engaged to attempt to manually withdraw the banknote fromthe validator. Furthermore, the validator is now inoperative until atechnician can access the validator and remove the jammed banknote.

The present invention provides a series of drive rollers havingdiffering characteristics with respect to movement of the banknote inthe feed direction, versus movement of the banknote to eject thebanknote from the validator. In the forward direction, passive rollersare held against rotation while freely rotating in the oppositedirection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A banknote drive system for driving a banknote in one of two directionscomprises a banknote inlet for receiving a leading edge of a banknoteand guiding a banknote to a series of drive rollers located in abanknote guide channel. The series of banknote rollers is dividedbetween active rollers which drive a banknote in a feed direction and areject direction and one way direction active rollers which drive abanknote in the reject direction.

Each of the drive rollers have an associated passive roller positionedsuch that a banknote driven by the banknote drive system passes betweeneach drive roller and the respective passive roller. Each one way activeroller cooperates with the respective passive roller which is lockedagainst rotation against movement of the banknote in a feed directionand which is driven during movement of a banknote in the rejectdirection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings wherein

FIG. 1 is a vertical section view of a validator showing the drivearrangement;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a banknote drive arrangementused in validators for feeding of a prior art banknote into a validator;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the prior art arrangement ofFIG. 2 showing a jammed banknote during ejection thereof through theinlet of a validator;

FIG. 4 illustrates the banknote drive system driven for feeding abanknote into the validator;

FIG. 5 shows the banknote drive system driven to eject a banknote fromthe validator;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the directionally varying drive rollerarrangement;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the drive arrangement similar to FIG. 6 with abanknote drawn into the validator with the drive arrangement nowinitiating ejection of the banknote; and

FIG. 8 shows further movement of the drive wheels ejecting the banknotefrom the validator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The drive roller arrangement for moving a banknote through the validatoras shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, can, on occasion, lead to a jammed banknoteduring ejection of a refused banknote. This drive arrangement includesan initial drive roller located near the mouth of the inlet and tworearward drive rollers which engage the banknote and continue to movethe banknote after the initial roller has caused the banknote to engagethe rearward drive rollers. The single forward drive roller helps tocorrect for misalignment of the banknote as a banknote engages thechannel forming a drag force causing a clockwise pivotting of thebanknote. This ability to pivot continues until the banknote is engagedby the secondary drive rollers.

This desirable characteristic with respect to the feeding of a banknotethrough the validator, contributes to problems with respect to jammingof the banknote during ejection of the banknote. As described above,there can be misalignment of the banknote within the validator and someangling of the banknote as shown in FIG. 3, during ejection of thebanknote, can cause jamming of the banknote at the inlet.

The validator 2 of FIG. 1 includes an inlet 4 for receiving a banknoteand guiding a banknote to the banknote evaluation channel 20. A banknote21 (shown in FIGS. 2 through 5) passes through the inlet 4 with theleading edge of the banknote 21 exiting the validating head at position23. A banknote drive system 3 is defined by leading drive rollers 6 andtrailing drive rollers 12. Each of these drive rollers have anassociated passive roller. In the case of leading outside drive wheels6, each drive wheel 6 has a passive one way notched roller 8 whereasdrive rollers 12 each have a passive cylindrical roller 14. The passiveroller 8 has a particular shape and has an associated one way lock whichwill be described in subsequent Figures.

The validator 2 conducts a number of tests by means of sensors placedeither side of the banknote channel 20 and either accepts or rejects thebanknote. An accepted banknote passes out of the validating head atposition 23 and is received by a banknote cassette or possibly by abanknote accumulator. If the banknote is rejected, the drive system 3 isreversed and the banknote is returned to the user through the inlet 4.Unfortunately, in prior art systems, this ejection of the banknotethrough the inlet 4 can result in a jammed banknote (FIG. 3) which oftencannot be retrieved by the user and renders the validator inoperativeuntil it is appropriately serviced by a technician.

Typically the front face of the validator includes an injection moldedbezel 5 which defines the inlet 4 and also provides a smooth transitionbanknote channel 20 of the validator. The mating of the bezel with theentrance to the banknote channel can result in an interruption 7 or edgewhich can jam a banknote during the rejection of the banknote from thevalidator. Jamming can also occur due to misalignment alone.

FIG. 2 shows a prior art drive arrangement comprising three driverollers, namely; a lead drive roller 6 a and two secondary drive rollers12. Each of these drive rollers includes a passive cylindrical roller 14which forms a pinch engagement such that a banknote can pass between thedrive roller 6 a or 12 and its associated passive roller, and urge thebanknote through the validator. Typically the passive rollers are springbiased to accommodate the thickness of the banknote.

In other cases, the rollers are deformable to accommodate the thicknessof the banknote as it is driven between the rollers.

The triangular layout of the drive and passive rollers shown in FIG. 2is desirable in that the lead roller 6 a allows some pivotting of thebanknote 3 to allow straightening of the banknote as it moves down theevaluation channel 20. It can be seen that the inlet 4 provides aninwardly tapering or guiding of the banknote to the banknote channel 20.This arrangement works extremely well for feeding of a banknote into theevaluation channel 20 and straightening of the banknote as it movesforward and prior to the banknote striking the secondary drive rollers12.

Some problems can occur as illustrated in FIG. 3 during ejection of thebanknote. In this case, the leading edge of the banknote has passed thejunction 7 between the bezel 5 and the leading edge of the banknoteevaluation channel 20 and upon return of the banknote to eject thebanknote, some misalignment of the banknote can occur. This can resultin one corner of the banknote becoming jammed within the validator.

Unfortunately, the banknote is still within the validator and thebanknote is not exposed in the inlet to allow the user to pull thebanknote from the validator. The jammed banknote renders the validatorinoperative until authorized personnel can correct the situation.Correction typically requires opening of the validator and removing ofthe jammed banknote. It can be appreciated that the desirable featuresof the drive arrangement for feeding of the banknote into a validatorhas caused difficulties during ejection of the banknote from thevalidator.

FIG. 4 shows banknote 21 being driven into the validator 2. In this casethe centre leading drive wheel 6 a is actively driving the banknote 21due to the gripping of the banknote between the roller 6 a and a passivecylindrical roller 8 a associated therewith. In contrast, the twooutside leading rollers 6 are each driven in a manner similar to roller6 a, however, the passive roller 8 associated therewith as shown in FIG.6 is not cylindrical and is being held against a clockwise rotation.There is a gap provided between the roller 6 and its associated passiveroller 8 and the banknote can slide therebetween. This gap, preferrablyabout 1 mm, allows pivotting of the banknote during the feed of thebanknote into the validator to allow alignment of the banknote as somesliding of the banknote between the rollers 6 and 8 is allowed as abanknote is normally about 0.1 to 0.2 mm thick. As the banknote reachesthe secondary drive rollers 12 it is then pulled through the banknotechannel as alignment of the banknote with the channel has occurred. Thusthe notched roller 8 is held against rotation in one direction andprovides a gap such that pivotting of the banknote to provide betteralignment continues during infeed of the banknote.

FIG. 5 shows a banknote 21 being ejected out of the validator. In thiscase, both the secondary drive rollers 12, the center lead drive roller6 a and the two outside lead rollers 6 are all active and drive thebanknote 21 through the inlet 4. The banknote does not become jammed asall drive wheels are active and the banknote is positively forced out ofthe validator. Passive rollers 8 a are also rotating.

It has been found that the passive rollers 8 rotate during ejection ofthe banknote even though there is some theoretical clearance between thebanknote and the passive roller. It is believed the banknote drags onthe passive roller and displaces the notched region and the clearance isthen eliminated. Any initial jamming of the banknote at the passiveroller 8 would also eliminate the gap and cause a rotation of thepassive roller.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through one of the outside lead driverollers 6 and its associated passive roller 8. As can be seen, thepassive roller 8 is not circular in cross section and has a flattened ornotched portion 26 which defines a gap between drive roller 6 and thisflattened portion 26. As can be seen, the banknote 21 can pass throughthis gap. Typically, there is a light gripping of the banknote and thereis a slight frictional drag as the banknote passes the passive roller 8.

The roller 8 rotates about axis 28 and has associated therewith thespiral cam surface 30. This cam surface has a thin leading edge 32 and astop face 34. A stop spring 36 is associated with the cam surface 30.Rotation of the drive wheel 6 in the counterclockwise direction as shownin FIG. 6, moves the banknote 21 through the gap and past a stationarypassive one way roller 8. The roller 8 is held in this position as stopface 34 is in engagement with the end of the spring latch 36. Thereforealthough the roller 8 would like to rotate in clockwise direction it isstopped against rotation due to engagement of surface 34 with the end ofthe spring lever 36. This arrangement is duplicated either side of thecenter lead roller 6 a. During movement of the banknote into thevalidator drive rollers 6 a rotate in the same manner as the centerdrive roller 6 a, however, the passive one way rollers 8 are locked inthe position shown in FIG. 6 and the banknote slides past the stationaryrollers 8. Preferrably drive rollers 6 and 6 a have a common driveshaft. Thus rollers 6 act to move a banknote through the gap with theassociated passive roller 8 held in a stationary position during infeedof the banknote. This gap allows centering during infeed of the banknoteto continue.

FIG. 7 shows the position of the roller 6 and the one way passive roller8 as the drive initially starts to rotate to eject the banknote 21 fromthe banknote channel 20. Roller 6 is rotated in a clockwise directionand the banknote 21 provides a drag force on passive roller 8encouraging the passive roller 8 to rotate in a counter clockwisedirection. This will cause the notched flattened portion 26 to bedisplaced and passive roller 8 positively engages the banknote and thedrive roller 6. This action is shown in FIG. 8 and the cam 30 isrotating with the roller 8 and has caused a slight upward movement ofthe spring arm 36. As can be appreciated the passive roller 8 cancontinue to rotate and will continue to rotate as the banknote isejected from the validator. This requires several rotations of thepassive roller 8 and this action continues even when the flattenedportion 26 aligns with the drive roller 6. The passive roller 8 isbiased by the spring member 40 towards the drive roller 6 and typicallythere is frictional engagement of the banknote between roller 6 androller 8 in essentially all positions. Note that initial movement ofroller 8 does not require any displacement of the spring arm as the camhas not yet engaged the spring arm. As shown the cam occupies about 180°of the shaft of the roller 8 and the cam strikes the spring arm when theroller is positively driven by the banknote and drive roller 6.

It is also possible although less desirable to increase the gap betweenthe drive rollers 6 and the passive rollers 8 such that rotation ofrollers 8 occurs if a banknote starts to jam immediately in front ofrollers 8. The jamming of the banknote will cause the gap to fill androllers 6 and 8 will rotate and clear the jam. Once roller 8 starts torotate it typically continues to rotate until the banknote is fullyejected.

With the present arrangement the desirable infeed drive characteristicsare achieved as shifting of a banknote to allow alignment isaccomplished and a banknote does not jam as the drive wheels of thespecialized outside inlet drive rollers continue to rotate and move thebanknote past the locked passive rollers 8. During ejection of thebanknote all drive rollers function and positively move the banknote outthe inlet. This drive arrangement has proven to be extremely effectivein reducing the occurrence of jammed banknotes during ejection of thebanknote from the validator.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

1. A banknote drive system (3) for driving a banknote in a feeddirection or in an eject direction, said drive system comprising abanknote inlet (4) for receiving a leading edge of a banknote (21) andguiding the banknote (21) to a series of drive rollers located in abanknote guide channel, said series of drive rollers (6, 6 a, 12) beingdivided between active rollers (6 a, 12) which drive a banknote in saidfeed direction and said eject direction and one way drive rollers (6),each of said drive rollers having an associated passive roller (8, 14)positioned such that a banknote driven by said banknote drive systempasses between each drive roller (6, 6 a, 12) and the respective passiveroller (8, 14), each one way drive roller (6) cooperating with therespective passive roller (8) which is held against rotation duringmovement of a banknote in said feed direction and which is free torotate and drive a banknote during movement of a banknote in said ejectdirection opposite to the feed direction.
 2. A banknote drive system (3)as claimed in claim 1 wherein each passive roller (8) associated with aone way drive roller (6) includes a one way clutch arrangement (34, 36)which stops rotation of said passive roller (8) when engaged by abanknote (21) during the feed of the banknote into the validator.
 3. Abanknote drive system (3) as claimed in claim 2 wherein each passiveroller (8) associated with a one way roller (6) includes a notchedregion which provides a clearance between the passive roller and theassociated one way driver roller (6) and said one way clutch arrangementstops said passive roller (8) in a position to provide said clearance.4. A banknote drive system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each passiveroller (8) associated with a one way drive roller (6) includes a spiralcam (30) rotatable with said passive roller (8) which cooperates with astop lever (36), said stop lever (36) cooperating with said spiral cam(30) to stop rotation of said passive roller (8) during feed of abanknote between the one way drive roller (6) and the passive roller (8)and to allow rotation of the passive roller (8) during movement of abanknote (21) in said eject direction.
 5. A banknote drive system (3) asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said active rollers (6 a, 12) have a leadactive roller (6 a) and two following active rollers (12) laid out in agenerally triangular configuration and said one way drive rollers (6)are located on opposite sides of said lead active roller (6 a) and infront of said two following active rollers (12).
 6. A banknote drivesystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein said active rollers (6 a, 12) andsaid one way drive rollers (6) are driven by a common drive train inboth the feed direction and the eject direction.
 7. A banknote drivesystem (3) as claimed in claim 1 wherein each passive roller (8)associated with a one way drive roller (6) during movement of a banknotein the eject direction assumes a clear position relative to the one waydrive roller (6) allowing a banknote (21) to pass therebetween.
 8. Abanknote drive system (3) as claimed in claim 1 wherein said activedrive rollers (6 a, 12) include a lead active drive roller (6 a) and twofollowing active drive rollers (12) placed either side and behind saidlead active drive roller (6 a).
 9. A banknote drive system (3) asclaimed in claim 2 wherein each one way drive roller (6) forms a gapwith its respective passive roller (8) during driving of a banknote insaid feed direction such that a banknote slides through said gap, andeach one drive roller (6) and the respective passive roller (8)positively engage and drive a banknote (21) during movement of abanknote (21) in said eject direction.
 10. A banknote drive system (3)comprising a triangular layout of active drive wheels (6 a, 12) whichare driven in synchronization in a forward and a reverse direction anddrive a banknote (21) through or out of a banknote evaluation channel(20), said active drive wheels (6 a, 12) including a lead active drivewheel (6 a) and two following drive wheels (12) placed either side andbehind said lead drive wheel (6 a), said drive system further includingtwo reverse drive assemblies (6, 8) which each define a gap throughwhich a banknote slides past a stationary roller (8) during the feed ofa banknote and each reverse drive assembly (6, 8) positively engages anddrives a banknote (21) during movement of a banknote (21) in saidreverse direction.